Actuator for camera, and camera module including the same

ABSTRACT

An actuator for a camera includes a guide member, a base, and a carrier stacked in a housing in an optical axis direction, a first driving unit generating driving force in a first axial direction and a second axial direction, the first driving unit including a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils, and a second driving unit generating driving force in the optical axis direction and including a magnet and a coil. The carrier, the base, and the guide member are movable together in the first axial direction, the carrier and the base are movable together in the second axial direction, the carrier is movable relative to the base in the optical axis direction, the magnets and the coils of the first driving unit and the magnet and the coil of the second driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean PatentApplication Numbers 10-2020-0173708 filed on Dec. 11, 2020, and10-2021-0058067 filed on May 4, 2021, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The following description relates to an actuator for a camera and acamera module including the same.

2. Description of the Background

Camera modules may be employed in mobile communication terminals such assmartphones, tablet PCs, and notebook computers.

In addition, a camera module may be provided with an actuator having afocus adjustment function and an optical image stabilization function inorder to generate a high-resolution image.

For example, the focus may be adjusted by moving a lens module in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction, or camera shake may be corrected bymoving the lens module in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis).

In the case of actuators, a lens module may be disposed in a carrier,and the focus may be adjusted by moving the carrier and the lens moduletogether in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Then, camera shake maybe corrected by moving the lens module in the direction perpendicular tothe optical axis (Z-axis) in the carrier. In this case, a magnet foroptical image stabilization may be mounted on the lens module.

In such actuators, since the lens module is moved in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction during focus adjustment, the relative position(position in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction) of a camera shakecompensation magnet and a camera shake compensation coil changes.

When the relative position (position in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction) of the camera shake compensation magnet and the camera shakecompensation coil changes, there may be a problem in that it may bedifficult to precisely control the driving force (driving force in thedirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis)) by the camerashake compensation magnet and the camera shake compensation coil.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts insimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

In a general aspect, an actuator for a camera includes a housing havingan interior space, a guide member, a base, and a carrier stacked in thehousing in an optical axis direction, a first driving unit configured togenerate driving force in a first axial direction, perpendicular to theoptical axis direction, and in a second axial direction, perpendicularto both the optical axis direction and the first axial direction, thefirst driving unit including a plurality of magnets and a plurality ofcoils, and a second driving unit configured to generate driving force inthe optical axis direction and including a magnet and a coil. Thecarrier, the base, and the guide member are configured to be movabletogether in the first axial direction, the carrier and the base areconfigured to be movable together in the second axial direction, thecarrier is configured to be movable relative to the base in the opticalaxis direction, the plurality of magnets and the plurality of coils ofthe first driving unit are disposed to face each other in the opticalaxis direction, and the magnet and the coil of the second driving unitare disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.

The first driving unit may include a first sub-driving unit including afirst magnet and a first coil facing the first magnet in the opticalaxis direction, and a second sub-driving unit comprising a second magnetand a second coil facing the second magnet in the optical axisdirection. The first magnet may be mounted on the guide member, and thesecond magnet may be mounted on the base.

The guide member may have a mounting groove in which the first magnet isdisposed, and an escape hole accommodating the second magnet.

The housing may have a first substrate mounted thereon. The first coiland the second coil may be disposed on one surface of the firstsubstrate. On an other surface of the first substrate, a first yoke maybe disposed in a position facing the first magnet, and a second yoke maybe disposed in a position facing the second magnet.

A first ball member capable of rolling motion in the first axialdirection may be disposed between the guide member and the housing, anda second ball member capable of rolling motion in the second axialdirection may be disposed between the guide member and the base.

At least one of surfaces of the guide member and the housing, facingeach other in the optical axis direction, may include a first guidegroove in which the first ball member is disposed, and at least one ofsurfaces of the guide member and the base, facing each other in theoptical axis direction, may include a second guide groove in which thesecond ball member is disposed.

The magnet of the second driving unit may be mounted on the carrier.

The magnet of the second driving unit may include at least two magnets,and the coil of the second driving unit may include at least two coils,the at least two magnets may be disposed on an upper surface and a lowersurface of the carrier, respectively, and one coil of the at least twocoils may be disposed on the first substrate, and the other coil may bedisposed on a second substrate disposed in a position spaced apart fromthe first substrate in the optical axis direction.

The carrier may include a body portion and a guide portion extendingfrom one side of the body portion in the optical axis direction, thebase may include a seating portion facing the body portion in theoptical axis direction, and a receiving portion extending from one sideof the seating portion in the optical axis direction, and at least aportion of the guide portion is accommodated in an accommodation spacein the receiving portion.

A third ball member may be disposed between the guide portion and thereceiving portion, and a third guide groove in which the third ballmember may be disposed may be respectively disposed in surfaces of theguide portion and the receiving portion facing each other in adirection, perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

The third ball member may include a first ball group in contact with thethird guide groove at four points, and a second ball group in contactwith the third guide groove at three points.

The number of a plurality of balls belonging to the first ball group maybe greater than the number of a plurality of balls belonging to thesecond ball group.

A first magnetic body may be disposed in the guide portion, a secondmagnetic body may be disposed in the receiving portion, and attractiveforce may be generated between the first magnetic body and the secondmagnetic body in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axisdirection. The first magnetic body and the second magnetic body may bedisposed closer to the first ball group than the second ball group.

The camera actuator may further include an image sensor disposed on thecarrier.

In another general aspect, a camera module includes a housing having aninternal space, a lens module fixedly disposed in the internal space, abase and a carrier stacked in an optical axis direction within thehousing, a first driving unit configured to generate driving force in afirst axial direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction, andin a second axial direction, perpendicular to both the optical axisdirection and the first axial direction, the first driving unitincluding a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils, and a seconddriving unit configured to generate driving force in the optical axisdirection and including a magnet and a coil, wherein an image sensor isdisposed on the carrier, wherein the carrier and the base are configuredto be movable together in the first axial direction and the second axialdirection, wherein the carrier is configured to be movable relative tothe base in the optical axis direction, wherein the plurality of magnetsand the plurality of coils of the first driving unit are disposed toface each other in the optical axis direction, and wherein the magnetand the coil of the second driving unit are disposed to face each otherin the optical axis direction.

The first driving unit may include a first sub-driving unit including afirst magnet and a first coil facing the first magnet in the opticalaxis direction, a second sub-driving unit including a second magnet anda second coil facing the second magnet in the optical axis direction,and a first position sensing unit facing the first magnet and the secondmagnet. The first magnet and the second magnet may be mounted on thebase, at least one of the first coil and the second coil may include twocoils, and the first position sensing unit may include at least threeposition sensors.

In another general aspect, an actuator for a camera includes a carrierand a base stacked in a housing in an optical axis direction, a firstdriving unit configured to drive the base and the carrier in a firstdirection perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction and the optical axisdirection, and a second driving unit configured to drive the carrierrelative to the base in the optical axis direction, wherein one or moreof the first driving unit and the second driving unit comprises a magnetfacing a coil in the optical axis direction.

The actuator may further include a guide member, wherein the guidemember may be restricted from movement in the second direction, whereinthe base is stacked on the guide member, and wherein the first drivingunit is configured to drive the guide member, the base, and the carrierin the first direction to drive the base and the carrier in the firstdirection.

A camera module may include the actuator for a camera, one of an imagesensor and a lens barrel disposed on the carrier, and an other of theimage sensor and the lens barrel fixedly disposed on the housing,wherein the lens barrel may include one or more lenses disposed on theoptical axis, and wherein the image sensor may be configured to receivelight emitted from the lens barrel.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device accordingto an example.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera module according to an example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to an example.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a carrier and a base.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ in a state inwhich the carrier and the base are assembled.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ in a state inwhich the carrier and the base are assembled.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a base, a guide member, and ahousing.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a base and a perspective view ofa guide member.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the guide member and aperspective view of the housing.

FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an actuator for acamera according to another example.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module accordingto another example.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device accordingto another example.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a camera module according to anotherexample.

FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to another example.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a lens and a lens barrel.

FIG. 16 is a modified example of the lens barrel.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a lens module, a firstsubstrate, a housing, a guide member, and a base.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a first substrate, a housing,and a guide member.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the guide member and thebase.

FIG. 20 is a modified example of the guide member and the base.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the carrier and the base.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are bottom perspective views of the base.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of FIG. 24B.

FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective view of the carrier.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII′ of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII′ of FIG. 23.

FIG. 30 is a modified example of a position of a third magnet.

FIG. 31 is a modified example of the positions of a lens barrel and animage sensor.

FIG. 32 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to another example.

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view of a housing and a base of acamera module according to another example.

FIG. 34 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to another example.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of a first driving unit of a camera moduleaccording to another example.

FIGS. 36 and 37 are modified examples of FIG. 35 .

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same referencenumerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale,and the relative sizes, proportions, and depictions of elements in thedrawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, while examples of the present disclosure will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is noted thatexamples are not limited to the same.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader ingaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses,and/or systems described herein. However, various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/orsystems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of thisdisclosure. For example, the sequences of operations described hereinare merely examples, and are not limited to those set forth herein, butmay be changed as will be apparent after gaining an understanding ofthis disclosure, with the exception of operations necessarily occurringin a certain order. Also, descriptions of features that are known in theart may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, andare not to be construed as being limited to the examples describedherein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merelyto illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing themethods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will beapparent after an understanding of this disclosure.

Herein, it is noted that use of the term “may” with respect to anembodiment or example, for example, as to what an embodiment or examplemay include or implement, means that at least one embodiment or exampleexists in which such a feature is included or implemented while allembodiments and examples are not limited thereto.

Throughout the specification, when an element, such as a layer, region,or substrate, is described as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupledto” another element, it may be directly “on,” “connected to,” or“coupled to” the other element, or there may be one or more otherelements intervening therebetween. In contrast, when an element isdescribed as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directlycoupled to” another element, there can be no other elements interveningtherebetween.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one and any combinationof any two or more of the associated listed items; likewise, “at leastone of” includes any one and any combination of any two or more of theassociated listed items.

Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used hereinto describe various members, components, regions, layers, or sections,these members, components, regions, layers, or sections are not to belimited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguishone member, component, region, layer, or section from another member,component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first member, component,region, layer, or section referred to in examples described herein mayalso be referred to as a second member, component, region, layer, orsection without departing from the teachings of the examples.

Spatially relative terms such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower”may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element'srelationship to another element as illustrated in the figures. Suchspatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, an element described as being “above” or “upper”relative to another element will then be “below” or “lower” relative tothe other element. Thus, the term “above” encompasses both the above andbelow orientations depending on the spatial orientation of the device.The device may also be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative terms usedherein are to be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only, andis not to be used to limit the disclosure. The articles “a,” “an,” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “includes,”and “has” specify the presence of stated features, numbers, operations,members, elements, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations,members, elements, and/or combinations thereof.

Due to manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, variations of theshapes illustrated in the drawings may occur. Thus, the examplesdescribed herein are not limited to the specific shapes illustrated inthe drawings, but include changes in shape that occur duringmanufacturing.

The features of the examples described herein may be combined in variousways as will be apparent after gaining an understanding of thisdisclosure. Further, although the examples described herein have avariety of configurations, other configurations are possible as will beapparent after an understanding of this disclosure.

Examples described herein provide an actuator for a camera in whichoptical image stabilization may be improved, and a camera moduleincluding the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device accordingto an example.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an actuator for a camera according to examples ofthe present disclosure, and camera modules 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50including the same may be mounted on a portable electronic device P. Theportable electronic device P may be an electronic device that isportable, such as a mobile communication terminal, a smartphone, or atablet PC.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera module according to an example,and FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to an example.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the camera module 10 according to anexample includes a lens module 1000 and an actuator 1 for a camera(hereinafter, referred to as an ‘actuator’).

The lens module 1000 includes at least one lens L and a lens barrel1100. At least one lens L is disposed inside the lens barrel 1100. Whena plurality of lenses L are provided, the plurality of lenses L aremounted in the lens barrel 1100 along an optical axis (Z-axis).

The lens module 1000 may further include a lens holder 1300 coupled tothe lens barrel 1100.

The lens holder 1300 is provided with a coupling hole 1310 penetratingthrough the lens holder 1300 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thelens barrel 1100 is inserted into the coupling hole 1310 and fixedlydisposed in the lens holder 1300. The lens holder 1300 may serve to fixthe lens barrel 1100 with respect to a housing 400. In another example,the lens barrel 1100 may also be directly coupled to the housing 400 andfixed.

In an example, the lens module 1000 is a fixing member fixed to thehousing 400. For example, the lens module 1000 is a fixed member thatdoes not move during autofocusing (AF) and optical image stabilization(OIS).

The camera module 10 according to an example may perform autofocusing(AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) by moving an image sensor Sinstead of the lens module 1000. Since the relatively light image sensorS is moved, the image sensor S may be moved with a smaller amount ofdriving force. Accordingly, the components constituting the actuator 1may be downsized.

The actuator 1 includes a carrier 100, a base 200, a guide member 300,and a housing 400.

The carrier 100 may move in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction and in adirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis). Referring to FIG.3 , the image sensor S is disposed on the carrier 100.

Accordingly, the image sensor S may be moved together with the carrier100 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction to adjust the focus, and theimage sensor S may be moved together with the carrier 100 in a directionperpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) to correct camera shakeduring shooting.

Referring to FIG. 3 , when the lens module 1000 is coupled to theactuator 1, the lens module 1000 may be disposed in a lower side basedon FIG. 3 . Light is incident from the bottom to the top with referenceto FIGS. 2 and 3 .

On the other hand, as another example, the lens module 1000 instead ofthe image sensor (S) may also be disposed in the carrier 100, and theimage sensor (S) may be disposed in the housing (400). In this case,autofocusing and optical image stabilization may be performed by movingthe lens module 1000 instead of the image sensor S.

The carrier 100 is disposed on the base 200. For example, the carrier100 may be stacked on the base 200. When adjusting the focus, the base200 is a fixed member that does not move in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction, and the carrier 100 is a movable member that moves in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

A first ball member B1 is disposed between the carrier 100 and the base200. The first ball member B1 is disposed to contact the carrier 100 andthe base 200, respectively.

The first ball member B1 supports the movement of the carrier 100 byrolling in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction when the carrier 100 ismoved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, relative to the base 200.

The base 200 may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the opticalaxis (Z-axis). For example, the base 200 is a fixed member that does notmove in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction during focus adjustment, butis a movable member that moves in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis) during optical image stabilization.

Since the carrier 100 is disposed on the base 200, the base 200 and thecarrier 100 are moved together in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis) to compensate for camera shake.

The base 200 is disposed within the housing 400. The guide member 300 isdisposed between the base 200 and the housing 400. For example, theguide member 300 and the base 200 are sequentially disposed in thehousing 400 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The guide member 300 may be configured to be movable in a first axis(X-axis) direction, and the base 200 may be configured to be movable inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and a second axis (Y-axis) direction.

For example, the guide member 300 and the base 200 may move together inthe first axis (X-axis) direction. In addition, the base 200 may bemoved in the second axis (Y-axis) direction relative to the guide member300.

The first axis (X-axis) direction may indicate a direction perpendicularto the optical axis (Z-axis), and the second axis (Y-axis) direction mayindicate a direction perpendicular to both the optical axis (Z-axis)direction and the first axis (X-axis) direction.

A second ball member B2 is disposed between the guide member 300 and thehousing 400, and a third ball member B3 is disposed between the guidemember 300 and the base 200.

The second ball member B2 is disposed to contact the guide member 300and the housing 400, respectively, and the third ball member B3 isdisposed to contact the guide member 300 and the base 200, respectively.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the carrier and the base, FIG.5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ in an assembled stateof the carrier and the base, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line II-II′ in an assembled state of the carrier and the base.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 , the movement of the carrier 100 in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction will be described.

The carrier 100 includes a body portion 110 and a guide portion 130. Thebody portion 110 may have a quadrangular frame shape. The guide portion130 is disposed on one side of the body portion 110. For example, theguide portion 130 extends in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction fromone side of the body portion 110.

The base 200 includes a seating portion 210 and a receiving portion 230.The seating portion 210 may have a quadrangular frame shape. Thereceiving portion 230 is disposed on one side of the seating portion210. For example, the receiving portion 230 extends in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction from one side of the seating portion 210.

The body portion 110 of the carrier 100 is disposed on the seatingportion 210 of the base 200. The seating portion 210 of the base 200 mayserve as a stopper for limiting the movement range of the carrier 100when the carrier 100 moves downwardly in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction.

A cushioning member having elasticity may be disposed on at least one ofthe surfaces of the body portion 110 of the carrier 100 and the seatingportion 210 of the base 200, facing each other. Therefore, when thecarrier 100 and the base 200 collide, impact and noise may be reduced.

The guide portion 130 of the carrier 100 is accommodated in thereceiving portion 230 of the base 200. To this end, the receivingportion 230 of the base 200 is provided with an accommodation space inwhich the guide portion 130 of the carrier 100 may be accommodated.

The guide portion 130 of the carrier 100 and the receiving portion 230of the base 200 are provided with a first guide groove g1, respectively,and the first ball member B1 is disposed in the first guide groove g1.The first guide groove g1 has a shape that has a length in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction.

The first ball member B1 includes a plurality of balls disposed in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction. The plurality of balls may be rolled inthe optical axis (Z-axis) direction when the carrier 100 is moved in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

A first magnetic body 150 is disposed on the guide portion 130 of thecarrier 100, and a second magnetic body 250 is disposed on the receivingportion 230 of the base 200. When the guide portion 130 of the carrier100 is disposed in the receiving portion 230 of the base 200, the firstmagnetic body 150 and the second magnetic body 250 face each other.

The first magnetic body 150 and the second magnetic body 250 maygenerate attractive force between each other. For example, attractiveforce may act between the first magnetic body 150 and the secondmagnetic body 250 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis).

One of the first magnetic body 150 and the second magnetic body 250 maybe a magnet, and the other may be a yoke. In another example, both thefirst magnetic body 150 and the second magnetic body 250 may be providedas magnets.

The first ball member B1 may be in contact with the carrier 100 and thebase 200 by the attractive force of the first magnetic body 150 and thesecond magnetic body 250.

The first ball member B1 includes a first ball group BG1 and a secondball group BG2, and the first ball group BG1 and the second ball groupBG2 respectively include a plurality of balls arranged in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction.

The first ball group BG1 and the second ball group BG2 are spaced apartfrom each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis), for example, in the Y-axis direction. The number of balls ofthe first ball group BG1 and the number of balls of the second ballgroup BG2 may be different from each other (please refer to FIG. 4 ).

For example, the first ball group BG1 includes three or more ballsdisposed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the second ballgroup BG2 includes two or less balls disposed in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

In the first ball group BG1, the two balls disposed on the outermostside in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction have the same diameter, andthe ball disposed therebetween has a smaller diameter than the balldisposed on the outermost side.

In addition, the two or less balls of the second ball group BG2 have thesame diameter as the two balls disposed on the outermost side in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction in the first ball group BG1.

In this case, the same diameter may mean not only physically the same,but may also include manufacturing errors.

Accordingly, the first ball member B1 may be in at least three-pointcontact with the carrier 100 and the base 200.

The actuator 1 for a camera according to an example includes a firstdriving unit 500. The first driving unit 500 may generate driving forcein the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, to move the carrier 100 in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first driving unit 500 includes a first magnet 510 and a first coil530. The first magnet 510 and the first coil 530 may be disposed to faceeach other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first magnet 510 is disposed on the carrier 100. For example, thefirst magnet 510 may be disposed on the upper surface of the carrier100. The first magnet 510 may be disposed on the upper surface of theguide portion 130 of the carrier 100. The upper surface of the carrier100 may mean a surface that faces the cover 800 to be described later.

The first magnet 510 may be a single-pole magnet in which the N pole andthe S pole are magnetized in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Forexample, a surface of the first magnet 510, facing the first coil 530,may have an S pole, and an opposite surface may have an N pole. The Npole and the S pole may also be magnetized opposite to each other. Aneutral region is formed between the N and S poles.

The first coil 530 is disposed to face the first magnet 510. Forexample, the first coil 530 may be disposed to face the first magnet 510in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first coil 530 is provided on a first substrate 550. The firstsubstrate 550 is mounted on a cover 800 to be described later, such thatthe first magnet 510 and the first coil 530 face each other in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first magnet 510 is a moving member mounted on the carrier 100 andmoving in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction together with the carrier100, and the first coil 530 is a fixed member fixed to the firstsubstrate 550 and the cover 800.

When power is applied to the first coil 530, the carrier 100 may bemoved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by the electromagneticinfluence between the first magnet 510 and the first coil 530.

Since the image sensor S is disposed on the carrier 100, the imagesensor S is also moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by themovement of the carrier 100.

The actuator 1 for a camera according to an example may sense theposition of the carrier 100 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

To this end, a first position sensing unit 570 is provided. The firstposition sensing unit 570 includes a sensing magnet 571 and a firstposition sensor 573. The sensing magnet 571 is disposed on the uppersurface of the carrier 100, and the first position sensor 573 isdisposed on the first substrate 550 to face the sensing magnet 571. Thefirst position sensor 573 may be a Hall sensor.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4 , the first position sensing unit570 includes the sensing magnet 571 and the first position sensor 573,but without disposing a separate sensing magnet 571, the first positionsensor 573 may also be disposed to face the first magnet 510.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cover, the base, the guidemember and the housing, FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the baseand a perspective view of the guide member, and FIG. 9 is a bottomperspective view of the guide member and a perspective view of thehousing.

The movement of the base 200 and the guide member 300 in a directionperpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) will be described withreference to FIGS. 7 to 9 .

The guide member 300 and the base 200 are disposed in the housing 400.For example, the guide member 300 and the base 200 are sequentiallydisposed in the housing 400 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.Accordingly, the guide member 300 is disposed between the lower surfaceof the base 200 and the bottom surface of the housing 400.

When viewed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, the guide member 300may have a shape in which two sides of a quadrangle are removed. Forexample, the guide member 300 may have an ‘

’ or ‘

’ shape when viewed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Since the guide member 300 is disposed between the base 200 and thehousing 400, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the guide member300 to reduce the height of the actuator 1 in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction.

However, in a case in which the thickness of the guide member 300 isreduced, the rigidity of the guide member 300 may be weakened, therebyreducing resistance to external shocks.

Accordingly, the guide member 300 may be provided with a reinforcingplate to reinforce the rigidity of the guide member 300.

For example, the reinforcing plate may be integrally coupled to theguide member 300 by insert injection. In this case, the reinforcingplate may be manufactured to be integrated with the guide member 300 byinjecting a resin material into the mold while the reinforcing plate isfixed in the mold.

The reinforcing plate is disposed inside the guide member 300, and aportion of the reinforcing plate is exposed to the outside of the guidemember 300. In this manner, while the reinforcing plate is integrallyformed inside the guide member 300, by exposing a portion of thereinforcing plate to the outside of the guide member 300, the bondingforce between the reinforcing plate and the guide member 300 may beimproved, and the reinforcing plate may be prevented from beingseparated from the frame.

The reinforcing plate may be formed of a non-magnetic metal such thatthe reinforcing plate does not affect the magnetic fields of a secondmagnet 611 and a third magnet 631 of a second driving unit 600 to bedescribed later.

The guide member 300 may be configured to be movable in the first axis(X-axis) direction, and the base 200 may be configured to be movable inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

For example, the guide member 300 and the base 200 may be moved togetherin the first axis (X-axis) direction. In addition, the base 200 may bemoved in the second axis (Y-axis) direction relative to the guide member300.

Since the carrier 100 is disposed on the base 200 and the image sensor Sis disposed on the carrier 100, as a result, the base 200 moves in thefirst axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction,and thus, the carrier 100 and the image sensor S may also be moved inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

The actuator 1 according to an example includes the second driving unit600. The second driving unit 600 may generate driving force in adirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) to move the base200 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis).

The second driving unit 600 includes a first sub-driving unit 610 and asecond sub-driving unit 630. The first sub-driving unit 610 may generatedriving force in the first axis (X-axis) direction, and the secondsub-driving unit 630 may generate driving force in the second axis(Y-axis) direction.

The first sub-driving unit 610 includes a second magnet 611 and a secondcoil 613. The second magnet 611 and the second coil 613 may be disposedto face each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The second magnet 611 is disposed on the guide member 300. For example,the second magnet 611 may be disposed on the lower surface of the guidemember 300. The lower surface of the guide member 300 may mean a surfacefacing the bottom surface of the housing 400.

A surface of the second magnet 611 facing the second coil 613 may haveboth an N pole and an S pole. For example, the surface of the secondmagnet 611 facing the second coil 613 may have an N pole, a neutralregion, and an S pole sequentially provided in the first axis (X-axis)direction. The second magnet 611 has a shape that has a length in thesecond axis (Y-axis) direction.

The second coil 613 is disposed to face the second magnet 611. Forexample, the second coil 613 may be disposed to face the second magnet611 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. The second coil 613 also hasa shape having a length in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The second coil 613 is provided on a second substrate 670. The secondsubstrate 670 is mounted on the bottom surface of the housing 400 suchthat the second magnet 611 and the second coil 613 face each other inthe optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The second magnet 611 is a movable member that is mounted on the guidemember 300 and moves together with the guide member 300, and the secondcoil 613 is a fixed member fixed to the second substrate 670, forexample, the housing 400.

When power is applied to the second coil 613, the guide member 300 maybe moved in the first axis (X-axis) direction by the electromagneticinfluence between the second magnet 611 and the second coil 613.

The second sub-driving unit 630 includes a third magnet 631 and a thirdcoil 633. The third magnet 631 and the third coil 633 may be disposed toface each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The third magnet 631 is disposed on the base 200. For example, the thirdmagnet 631 may be disposed on the lower surface of the base 200. Thelower surface of the base 200 may mean a surface facing the bottomsurface of the housing 400.

An escape groove 310 is provided in the guide member 300 in such amanner that the third magnet 631 and the second coil 613 may directlyface each other. The guide member 300 and the base 200 are sequentiallydisposed in the housing 400 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, andeven when the third magnet 631 is disposed on the base 200 by the escapegroove 310 provided in the guide member 300, the overall height of theactuator 1 may be prevented from increasing.

A surface of the third magnet 631 facing the third coil 633 may haveboth an N pole and an S pole. For example, the surface of the thirdmagnet 631 facing the third coil 633 may have an N pole, a neutralregion, and an S pole sequentially provided in the second axis (Y-axis)direction. The third magnet 631 has a shape having a length in the firstaxis (X-axis) direction.

The third coil 633 is disposed to face the third magnet 631. Forexample, the third coil 633 may be disposed to face the third magnet 631in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. The third coil 633 also has ashape having a length in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

The third coil 633 is provided on the second substrate 670. The secondsubstrate 670 is mounted on the bottom surface of the housing 400 suchthat the third magnet 631 and the third coil 633 face each other in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The third magnet 631 is a movable member mounted on the base 200 andmoves together with the base 200, and the third coil 633 may be a fixingmember fixed to the second substrate 670 (the housing 400).

When power is applied to the third coil 633, the base 200 may be movedin the second axis (Y-axis) direction by electromagnetic influencebetween the third magnet 631 and the third coil 633.

In this example, the second magnet 611 is mounted on the guide member300, and the third magnet 631 is mounted on the base 200, but in anotherexample, both the second magnet 611 and the third magnet 631 may also bemounted on the base 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the second coil 613 and the third coil 633may be provided as winding coils and mounted on the second substrate670. In another example, the second coil 613 and the third coil 633 maybe a copper foil pattern stacked and embedded in the second substrate670.

The second magnet 611 and the third magnet 631 are disposedperpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis), and the second coil 613 and the third coil 633 are alsolocated perpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis).

The second ball member B2 is disposed between the guide member 300 andthe housing 400, and the third ball member B3 is disposed between theguide member 300 and the base 200.

The second ball member B2 is disposed to contact the guide member 300and the housing 400, respectively, and the third ball member B3 isdisposed to contact the guide member 300 and the base 200, respectively.

The second ball member B2 and the third ball member B3 function to guidethe movement of the guide member 300 and the base 200 during the processof optical image stabilization, and in addition, also function tomaintain a gap between the base 200, the guide member 300 and thehousing 400.

The second ball member B2 guides the movement of the guide member 300 inthe first axis (X-axis) direction, and the third ball member B3 guidesthe movement of the base 200 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

For example, when the driving force in the first axis (X-axis) directionis generated, the second ball member B2 rolls in the first axis (X-axis)direction. Accordingly, the second ball member B2 guides the movement ofthe guide member 300 in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

In addition, when the driving force in the second axis (Y-axis)direction is generated, the third ball member B3 rolls in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction. Accordingly, the third ball member B3 guidesthe movement of the base 200 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The second ball member B2 includes a plurality of balls disposed betweenthe guide member 300 and the housing 400, and the third ball member B3is disposed between the base 200 and the guide member 300.

A second guide groove g2 in which the second ball member B2 is disposedis formed in at least one of the surfaces of the guide member 300 andthe housing 400 facing each other in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction. The second guide groove g2 is provided as a plurality ofsecond guide grooves g2 to correspond to the plurality of balls of thesecond ball member B2.

The second ball member B2 is disposed in the second guide groove g2 andfitted between the guide member 300 and the housing 400.

In the state in which the second ball member B2 is accommodated in thesecond guide groove g2, the second ball member B2 is limited in movementin the optical axis (Z-axis) and the second axis (Y-axis) directions,and may only move in the first axis (X-axis) direction. As an example,the second ball member B2 is capable of rolling motion only in the firstaxis (X-axis) direction.

To this end, the planar shape of the second guide groove g2 may be arectangle having a length in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

A third guide groove g3 in which the third ball member B3 is disposed isformed in at least one of the surfaces of the base 200 and the guidemember 300 facing each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thethird guide groove g3 is provided as a plurality of third guide groovesg3 to correspond to the plurality of balls of the third ball member B3.

The third ball member B3 is accommodated in the third guide groove g3and is fitted between the base 200 and the guide member 300.

In the state in which the third ball member B3 is accommodated in thethird guide groove g3, the third ball member B3 is limited in movementin the optical axis (Z-axis) and the first axis (X-axis) direction, andmay only move in the second axis (Y-axis) direction. As an example, thethird ball member B3 is capable of rolling motion only in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction.

To this end, the planar shape of the third guide groove g3 may be arectangle having a length in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

When the driving force is generated in the first axis (X-axis)direction, the guide member 300 and the base 200 are moved together inthe first axis (X-axis) direction.

In this case, the second ball member B2 disposed between the guidemember 300 and the housing 400 rolls along the first axis (X-axis).

The third ball member B3 is disposed between the guide member 300 andthe base 200, and the third ball member B3 is limited in movement in thefirst axis (X-axis) direction, and as a result, as the guide member 300moves in the first axis (X-axis) direction, the base 200 also moves inthe first axis (X-axis) direction.

In addition, when the driving force is generated in the second axis(Y-axis) direction, the base 200 moves in the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

At this time, the third ball member B3 disposed between the base 200 andthe guide member 300 rolls along the second axis (Y-axis).

The guide member 300 may move in the first axis (X-axis) direction, andthe base 200 may move in both the first axis (X-axis) direction and thesecond axis (Y-axis) direction.

Since the carrier 100 is disposed on the base 200 and the image sensor Sis disposed on the carrier 100, as a result, as the base 200 moves, thecarrier 100 and the image sensor S also move in the first axis (X-axis)direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

As described above, the carrier 100 may be moved in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction relative to the base 200.

The image sensor S is electrically connected to the first substrate 550or the second substrate 670. For example, the image sensor S may beelectrically connected to the first substrate 550 or the secondsubstrate 670 by a connection portion.

Since the image sensor S is movable in three axial directions, theconnection portion connecting the image sensor S and the first substrate550 or the second substrate 670 to each other may be configured to beflexible.

For example, the connection portion may be provided in the form of aflexible film in which a conductor is patterned or in the form of aplurality of cables. Accordingly, when the image sensor S is moved, theconnection portion may be bent.

The actuator 1 according to an example may sense a position of the base200 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis).

To this end, a second position sensing unit 650 is provided. The secondposition sensing unit 650 includes a second position sensor 651 and athird position sensor 653. The second position sensor 651 is disposed onthe second substrate 670 to face the second magnet 611, and the thirdposition sensor 653 is disposed on the second substrate 670 to face thethird magnet 631. The second position sensor 651 and the third positionsensor 653 may be Hall sensors.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7 , the second position sensor 651 isdisposed to face the second magnet 611 without disposing a separatesensing magnet, and the third position sensor 653 is disposed to facethe third magnet 631. However, like the first position sensing unit 570,the second position sensing unit 650 may also be configured to furtherinclude a sensing magnet.

In an example, a yoke portion 700 is provided such that the base 200,the guide member 300, and the housing 400 may be maintained in a stateof contact with the second ball member B2 and the third ball member B3.

The yoke portion 700 includes a first yoke 710 and a second yoke 730,and the first yoke 710 and the second yoke 730 are fixed to the housing400. For example, the first yoke 710 and the second yoke 730 may bedisposed on the second substrate 670, and the second substrate 670 maybe fixed to the housing 400.

The first yoke 710 is disposed to face the second magnet 611 in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the second yoke 730 is disposed toface the third magnet 631 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Accordingly, attractive force acts between the first yoke 710 and thesecond magnet 611 and between the second yoke 730 and the third magnet631 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, respectively.

Therefore, since the base 200 and the guide member 300 are pressed inthe direction toward the yoke portion 700, a contact state of the base200, the guide member 300 and the housing 400 with the second ballmember B2 and the third ball member B3 may be maintained.

The first yoke 710 and the second yoke 730 may be formed of a materialcapable of generating attractive force between the second magnet 611 andthe third magnet 631, respectively. For example, the first yoke 710 andthe second yoke 730 are provided as a magnetic body.

Even when attractive force acts between the yoke portion 700 and thesecond magnet 611 and the third magnet 631, the contact state betweenthe respective components may be released due to an external impact orthe like. Therefore, in an example of the present disclosure, the cover800 is provided to improve resistance to external shocks or the like.

The cover 800 is coupled to the housing 400 to cover at least a portionof the upper surface of the carrier 100. The cover 800 may behook-coupled to the housing 400.

Accordingly, the cover 800 may serve as a stopper to prevent the carrier100 from being separated to the outside. The cushioning member havingelasticity may be disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the cover800 and the carrier 100 facing each other. Therefore, in a case in whichthe cover 800 and the carrier 100 collide, impact and noise may bereduced.

In addition, the cover 800 may cover the upper surface of the guideportion 130 of the carrier 100 to prevent the first ball member B1 frombeing separated.

In the actuator 1 according to an example, the first coil 530 of thefirst driving unit 500, and the second coil 613 and the third coil 633of the second driving unit 600 are all fixed members.

When even some coils are moved during autofocusing and/or optical imagestabilization, there may be a problem in that the connection between thecoil and the substrate may become complicated.

However, in the case of the actuator 1 according to an example of thepresent disclosure, since all of the first coil 530, the second coil613, and the third coil 633 do not move during autofocusing and opticalimage stabilization, the connection between each coil and the board maybe simplified.

In addition, even in the case in which the carrier 100 is moved in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction during focus adjustment, since therelative positions of the second magnet 611 and the second coil 613 andthe relative positions of the third magnet 631 and the third coil 633 donot change, the driving force for optical image stabilization may beprecisely controlled.

FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an actuator for acamera according to another example.

The example illustrated in FIG. 10 is different from the exampleillustrated in FIG. 3 in the positions of the first magnet 510 and thefirst coil 530.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the first magnet 510 is disposed on the carrier100. For example, the first magnet 510 may be disposed on the uppersurface of the carrier 100. Unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 3 ,the first magnet 510 may be disposed on a remaining surface of the uppersurface of the carrier 100, except for the guide portion 130.

For example, the position of the first magnet 510 may be anywhere on theupper surface of the carrier 100.

Since the first magnet 510 may be disposed anywhere on the upper surfaceof the carrier 100, at least a portion of the first magnet 510 may bedisposed to overlap the second magnet 611 or the third magnet 631 in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction depending on the position of the firstmagnet 510.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 10 , the first magnet 510 is disposedat a position overlapping with the third magnet 631 in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

In this case, since the magnetic field of the first magnet 510 mayaffect the third coil 633 or the magnetic field of the third magnet 631may affect the first coil 530, a yoke may be disposed between the firstmagnet 510 and the third magnet 631. The yoke may be disposed on thelower surface of the carrier 100 or the upper surface of the base 200.The yoke may be formed of a magnetic metal material.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module accordingto another example, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portableelectronic device P according to another example.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 , a camera module 20 according to anotherexample includes a case 23, a reflective member R, a lens module 21, andan actuator 1.

In this example, the optical axis (Z-axis) of the lens module 21 may bein a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction (X-axisdirection, the direction from the front surface to the rear surface ofthe portable electronic device (P), or vice versa) of the portableelectronic device (P).

For example, the optical axis (Z-axis) of the lens module 21 may beformed in the width direction or the length direction of the portableelectronic device P.

When the components constituting the camera module are stacked in thethickness direction of the portable electronic device P, there is aproblem in that the thickness of the portable electronic device Pincreases.

However, in the camera module 20 of this example, since the optical axis(Z-axis) of the lens module 21 is formed in the width direction or thelength direction of the portable electronic device P, the thickness ofthe portable electronic device P may be reduced.

The reflective member R and the lens module 21 are disposed inside thecase 23. The case 23 has an internal space to accommodate the reflectivemember R and the lens module 21. However, a structure in which thereflective member R and the lens module 21 are disposed in separatecases 23 respectively and respective cases 23 are coupled to each othermay also be provided.

The reflective member R is configured to change the traveling directionof light. For example, the traveling direction of the light incidentinto the case 23 may be changed to be directed toward the lens module 21through the reflective member R. The reflective member R may be a mirroror a prism that reflects light.

The actuator 1 is coupled to the case 23. The actuator 1 may be theactuator 1 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10 .

The actuator 1 is equipped with the image sensor S, and the image sensorS may be moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, the first axis(X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction by the firstdriving unit 500 and the second driving unit 600.

Since the image sensor S mounted on the actuator 1 may be moved in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction, the first axis (X-axis) direction andthe second axis (Y-axis) direction, the focus adjustment and opticalimage stabilization functions may be performed by the movement of theimage sensor S.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a camera module according to anotherexample, and FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of acamera module according to another example.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a lens and a lens barrel, and FIG. 16is a modified example of the lens barrel.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 , the camera module 30 according to anotherexample includes a lens module 1000 and an actuator 2.

The lens module 1000 includes at least one lens L and a lens barrel1100. At least one lens L is disposed inside the lens barrel 1100. Whena plurality of lenses L are provided, the plurality of lenses L aremounted in the lens barrel 1100 along the optical axis (Z-axis).

The lens module 1000 may further include a lens holder 1300 coupled tothe lens barrel 1100.

The lens holder 1300 is provided with a coupling hole 1310 penetratingthrough the lens holder 1300 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thelens barrel 1100 is inserted into the coupling hole 1310 and fixedlydisposed in the lens holder 1300. The lens holder 1300 may serve to fixthe lens barrel 1100 with respect to the housing 5000. In anotherexample, the lens barrel 1100 may also be directly coupled to thehousing 5000 and fixed.

In this example, the lens module 1000 is a fixing member fixed to thehousing 5000. For example, the lens module 1000 is a fixed member thatdoes not move during autofocusing (AF) and optical image stabilization(OIS).

The camera module 30 may perform autofocusing (AF) and optical imagestabilization (OIS) by moving the image sensor S instead of the lensmodule 1000. Since the relatively light image sensor S is moved, theimage sensor S may be moved with relatively less driving force.Accordingly, the components constituting the actuator 2 may bedownsized.

Light is incident from the top to the bottom with reference to FIGS. 13and 14 . For example, the drawings illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 areinverted upwardly and downwardly when compared with FIGS. 2 and 3 .

The actuator 2 includes a carrier 2000, a base 3000, a guide member4000, and a housing 5000.

The carrier 2000 may move in an optical axis (Z-axis) direction and in adirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis). Referring to FIG.14 , the image sensor S is disposed on the carrier 2000.

Accordingly, the image sensor S is moved together with the carrier 2000in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction to adjust the focus, and theimage sensor S is moved together with the carrier 2000 in a directionperpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), to compensate for camerashake during shooting.

The base 3000 may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the opticalaxis (Z-axis). For example, the base 3000 is a fixed member that doesnot move in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction during focus adjustment,but is a movable member that moves in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis) during optical image stabilization.

Since the carrier 2000 is disposed on the base 3000, the base 3000 andthe carrier 2000 are moved together in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis) to compensate for camera shake. During focusadjustment, the carrier 2000 is moved relative to the base 3000.

The base 3000 is disposed within the housing 5000. A guide member 4000is disposed between the base 3000 and the housing 5000. For example, theguide member 4000 and the base 3000 are sequentially disposed in thehousing 5000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The guide member 4000 may be configured to be movable in the first axis(X-axis) direction, and the base 3000 may be configured to be movable inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

For example, the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 may move togetherin the first axis (X-axis) direction. In addition, the base 3000 may bemoved in the second axis (Y-axis) direction relative to the guide member4000.

The first axis (X-axis) direction may indicate a direction perpendicularto the optical axis (Z-axis), and the second axis (Y-axis) direction mayindicate a direction perpendicular to both the optical axis (Z-axis)direction and the first axis (X-axis) direction.

A first ball member B4 is disposed between the guide member 4000 and thehousing 5000, and a second ball member B5 is disposed between the guidemember 4000 and the base 3000.

The first ball member B4 is disposed to contact the guide member 4000and the housing 5000, respectively, and the second ball member B5 isdisposed to contact the guide member 4000 and the base 3000,respectively.

The carrier 2000 is disposed on the base 3000. For example, the carrier2000 and the base 3000 may be stacked in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction. When adjusting the focus, the base 3000 is a fixed memberthat does not move in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and thecarrier 2000 is a movable member that moves in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction.

A third ball member B6 is disposed between the carrier 2000 and the base3000. The third ball member B6 is disposed to contact the carrier 2000and the base 3000, respectively.

The third ball member B6 supports the movement of the carrier 2000 byrolling in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction when the carrier 2000 ismoved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction relative to the base 3000.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16 , the lens barrel 1100 may be configured tohave a partially cylindrical shape, or may be configured to have acylindrical shape as a whole.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the lens barrel 1100 may include a first barrel1110 and a second barrel 1130. The first barrel 1110 and the secondbarrel 1130 may be used to refer to the upper part and the lower part ofone lens barrel 1100, respectively. In another example, the first barrel1110 and the second barrel 1130 may be provided as separate componentsand coupled to each other.

The first barrel 1110 may have a cylindrical shape having an internalspace, and the second barrel 1130 may have a quadrangular box shapehaving an internal space. The upper surface of the first barrel 1110 andthe lower surface of the second barrel 1130 are provided with passageholes through which light passes, respectively.

A lens (L1, hereinafter referred to as a ‘first lens’) having a circularplanar shape is disposed inside the first barrel 1110, and a lens (L2,hereinafter referred to as a ‘second lens’) having a non-circular planarshape is disposed inside the second barrel 1130.

For example, the second lens L2 is non-circular when viewed in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction.

In a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), the second lensL2 has a length T1 in the direction of the first axis (X-axis)perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), which is greater than alength T2 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction perpendicular to boththe optical axis (Z-axis) and the first axis (X-axis) direction.

For example, the second lens L2 has a major axis and a minor axis. Aline segment connecting both sides of the second lens L2 in the firstaxis (X-axis) direction while passing through the optical axis (Z-axis)is the major axis, and a line segment connecting both sides of thesecond lens L2 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction while passingthrough the optical axis (Z-axis) is the minor axis. The major axis andthe minor axis are perpendicular to each other, and the length of themajor axis is greater than the length of the minor axis.

The second lens L2 has four side surfaces along the circumference of thesecond lens L2. When viewed in the optical axis direction, two of thefour side surfaces have an arc shape, and the other two side surfaceshave a substantially linear shape.

In general, since the image sensor S of the camera module 30 isrectangular, not all of the light refracted by the circular lens formsan image on the image sensor S.

In this example, since the second lens L2 has a non-circular planarshape, the lens L and the lens barrel 1100 may be miniaturized withoutaffecting image formation, and accordingly, the size of the cameramodule 30 may be reduced.

On the other hand, the second lens L2 has the major axis and the minoraxis, and thus has a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter. In thiscase, the maximum diameter of the second lens L2 is greater than thediameter of the first lens L1.

For example, the second lens L2 having a relatively great diameter mayhave a non-circular planar shape.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the lens module, the firstsubstrate, the housing, the guide member and the base, FIG. 18 is anexploded perspective view of the first substrate, the housing, and theguide member, FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the guidemember and the base, and FIG. 20 is a modified example of the guidemember and the base.

Also, FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ ofFIG. 17 , and FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′of FIG. 17 .

With reference to FIGS. 17 to 22 , movement of the base 3000 and theguide member 4000 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis) will be described.

The guide member 4000 and the base 3000 are disposed in the housing5000. For example, the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 aresequentially disposed in the housing 5000 in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction. Accordingly, the guide member 4000 is disposed between thehousing 5000 and the base 3000.

When viewed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, the guide member4000 may have a shape in which two sides of a quadrangle are removed.For example, the guide member 4000 may have an ‘

’ or ‘

’ shape when viewed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Since the guide member 4000 is disposed between the housing 5000 and thebase 3000, reducing the thickness of the guide member 4000 reduces theheight of the actuator 1 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

However, in the case in which the thickness of the guide member 4000 isreduced, the rigidity of the guide member 4000 may be weakened, reducingresistance to external shocks.

Accordingly, the guide member 4000 may be provided with a reinforcingplate to reinforce the rigidity of the guide member 4000.

For example, the reinforcing plate may be integrally coupled to theguide member 4000 by insert injection. In this case, the reinforcingplate may be manufactured to be integrated with the guide member 4000 byinjecting a resin material into the mold while the reinforcing plate isfixed in the mold.

The reinforcing plate may be disposed inside the guide member 4000. Inaddition, the reinforcing plate may be disposed such that a portionthereof is exposed to the outside of the guide member 4000. In thismanner, while the reinforcing plate is integrally formed inside theguide member 4000, by exposing a portion of the reinforcing plate to theoutside of the guide member 4000, the coupling force between thereinforcing plate and the guide member 4000 may be improved, and thereinforcing plate may be prevented from being separated from the guidemember 4000.

The reinforcing plate may be formed of a non-magnetic metal such thatthe reinforcing plate does not affect the magnetic fields of a firstmagnet 6110 and a second magnet 6130 of the first driving unit 6000 tobe described later.

The guide member 4000 may be configured to be movable in the first axis(X-axis) direction, and the base 3000 may be configured to be movable inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

For example, the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 may move togetherin the first axis (X-axis) direction. In addition, the base 3000 may bemoved in the second axis (Y-axis) direction relative to the guide member4000.

The carrier 2000 is disposed on the base 3000, and the image sensor S isdisposed on the carrier 2000. Accordingly, as the base 3000 moves in thefirst axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction,the carrier 2000 and the image sensor S may also move in the first axis(X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The actuator 2 according to this example includes a first driving unit6000. The first driving unit 6000 may generate driving force in adirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) to move the base3000 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis).

The first driving unit 6000 includes a first sub-driving unit 6100 and asecond sub-driving unit 6300. The first sub-driving unit 6100 maygenerate driving force in the first axis (X-axis) direction, and thesecond sub-driving unit 6300 may generate driving force in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction.

The first sub-driving unit 6100 includes the first magnet 6110 and thefirst coil 6130. The first magnet 6110 and the first coil 6130 may bedisposed to face each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first magnet 6110 is disposed on the guide member 4000. For example,the first magnet 6110 may be disposed on one side of the guide member4000 having an ‘

’ or ‘

’ shape. A mounting groove 4100 in which the first magnet 6110 isdisposed may be provided on one side of the guide member 4000. Byinserting the first magnet 6110 into the mounting groove 4100, anincrease in the overall height of the actuator 1 and the camera module30 due to the thickness of the first magnet 6110 may be prevented.

A first back yoke 6150 may be disposed between the guide member 4000 andthe first magnet 6110. The first back yoke 6150 may improve the drivingforce by preventing the magnetic flux of the first magnet 6110 fromleaking.

The first magnet 6110 may be magnetized such that one surface (e.g., asurface facing the first coil 6130) has both an N pole and an S pole.For example, on one surface of the first magnet 6110 facing the firstcoil 6130, an N pole, a neutral region and an S pole may be sequentiallyprovided in the first axis (X-axis) direction. The first magnet 6110 hasa shape having a length in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The other surface (e.g., the surface opposing the one surface) of thefirst magnet 6110 may be magnetized to have both an S pole and an Npole. For example, on the other surface of the first magnet 6110, an Spole, a neutral region, and an N pole may be sequentially provided inthe first axis (X-axis) direction.

The first coil 6130 is disposed to face the first magnet 6110. Forexample, the first coil 6130 may be disposed to face the first magnet6110 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. The first coil 6130 has ahollow donut shape, and has a length in the second axis (Y-axis)direction.

The first coil 6130 is disposed on a first substrate 8100. The firstsubstrate 8100 is mounted on the housing 5000 such that the first magnet6110 and the first coil 6130 face each other in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

A through-hole 5100 is provided in the housing 5000. For example, thethrough-hole 5100 may be configured to penetrate through the uppersurface of the housing 5000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thefirst coil 6130 is disposed in the through-hole 5100 of the housing5000. By disposing the first coil 6130 in the through-hole 5100 of thehousing 5000, the overall height of the actuator 2 and the camera module30 may be prevented from increasing due to the thickness of the firstcoil 6130.

The first magnet 6110 is a movable member that is mounted on the guidemember 4000 and moves together with the guide member 4000, and the firstcoil 6130 is a fixed member fixed to the first substrate 8100 and thehousing 5000.

When power is applied to the first coil 6130, the guide member 4000 maybe moved in the first axis (X-axis) direction by the electromagneticforce between the first magnet 6110 and the first coil 6130.

The second sub-driving unit 6300 includes a second magnet 6310 and asecond coil 6330. The second magnet 6310 and the second coil 6330 may bedisposed to face each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The second magnet 6310 is disposed on the base 3000. A second back yoke6350 may be disposed between the base 3000 and the second magnet 6310.The second back yoke 6350 may improve driving force by preventing themagnetic flux of the second magnet 6310 from leaking.

An escape hole 4300 is provided in the guide member 4000 such that thesecond magnet 6310 and the second coil 6330 may directly face eachother. For example, the escape hole 4300 may be provided in the otherside (the side where the first magnet 6110 is not disposed) of the guidemember 4000 having a ‘

’ or ‘

’ shape. The escape hole 4300 may penetrate through the other side ofthe guide member 4000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The second magnet 6310 is disposed in the escape hole 4300 of the guidemember 4000 in a state mounted on the base 3000. Accordingly, the secondmagnet 6310 may directly face the second coil 6330 through the escapehole 4300.

The guide member 4000 and the base 3000 are sequentially disposed in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction in the housing 5000, and even when thesecond magnet 6310 is disposed on the base 3000, the total height of theactuator 2 and the camera module 30 may be prevented from increasing, bythe escape hole 4300 provided in the guide member 4000.

The second magnet 6310 may be magnetized such that one surface (e.g., asurface facing the second coil 6330) has both an S pole and an N pole.For example, an S pole, a neutral region, and an N pole may besequentially provided on one surface of the second magnet 6310 facingthe second coil 6330 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction. The secondmagnet 6310 has a shape having a length in the first axis (X-axis)direction.

The other surface (e.g., the surface opposing the one surface) of thesecond magnet 6310 may be magnetized to have both an N pole and an Spole. For example, on the other surface of the second magnet 6310, an Npole, a neutral region, and an S pole may be sequentially provided inthe second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The second coil 6330 is disposed to face the second magnet 6310. Forexample, the second coil 6330 may be disposed to face the second magnet6310 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. The second coil 6330 has ahollow donut shape, and has a length in the first axis (X-axis)direction.

The second coil 6330 is disposed on the first substrate 8100. The firstsubstrate 8100 is mounted on the housing 5000 such that the secondmagnet 6310 and the second coil 6330 face each other in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

A through-hole 5100 is provided in the housing 5000. For example, thethrough-hole 5100 may be configured to penetrate through the uppersurface of the housing 5000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thesecond coil 6330 is disposed in the through-hole 5100 of the housing5000. By disposing the second coil 6330 in the through-hole 5100 of thehousing 5000, the overall height of the actuator 2 and the camera module30 may be prevented from increasing due to the thickness of the secondcoil 6330.

The second magnet 6310 is a moving member that is mounted on the base3000 and moves together with the base 3000, and the second coil 6330 isa fixed member fixed to the first substrate 8100 and the housing 5000.

When power is applied to the second coil 6330, the base 3000 may bemoved in the second axis (Y-axis) direction by electromagnetic forceacting between the second magnet 6310 and the second coil 6330.

In this example, the first magnet 6110 is mounted on the guide member4000, and the second magnet 6310 is mounted on the base 3000. As anotherexample, referring to FIG. 20 , both the first magnet 6110 and thesecond magnet 6310 may be mounted on the base 3000. In this case, theescape hole 4300 may also be provided in the one side of the guidemember 4000.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 , the first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330may be provided as winding coils and mounted on the first substrate8100. In another example, the first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330may be a copper foil pattern stacked and embedded in the first substrate8100.

The first magnet 6110 and the second magnet 6310 are disposedperpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis), and the first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330 are alsolocated perpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis).

A first ball member B4 is disposed between the guide member 4000 and thehousing 5000, and a second ball member B5 is disposed between the guidemember 4000 and the base 3000.

The first ball member B4 is disposed to contact the guide member 4000and the housing 5000, respectively, and the second ball member B5 isdisposed to contact the guide member 4000 and the base 3000,respectively.

The first ball member B4 and the second ball member B5 function to guidethe movement of the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 during thecamera shake compensation process, and in addition, also function tomaintain a gap between the base 3000, the guide member 4000, and thehousing 5000.

The first ball member B4 guides the movement of the guide member 4000 inthe first axis (X-axis) direction, and the second ball member B5 guidesthe movement of the base 3000 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

For example, when the driving force in the first axis (X-axis) directionis generated, the first ball member B4 rolls in the first axis (X-axis)direction. Accordingly, the first ball member B4 guides the movement ofthe guide member 4000 in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

In addition, when the driving force in the second axis (Y-axis)direction is generated, the second ball member B2 rolls in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction. Accordingly, the second ball member B2 guidesthe movement of the base 3000 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The first ball member B4 includes a plurality of balls disposed betweenthe guide member 4000 and the housing 5000, and the second ball memberB5 includes a plurality of balls disposed between the base 3000 and theguide member 4000.

Referring to FIG. 18 , at least one of the surfaces of the guide member4000 and the housing 5000, facing each other in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction, is provided with a first guide groove g4 in whichthe first ball member B4 is disposed. The first guide groove g4 isprovided as a plurality of first guide grooves g4 to correspond to theplurality of balls of the first ball member B4.

The first ball member B4 is disposed in the first guide groove g4 and isfitted between the guide member 4000 and the housing 5000.

In the state accommodated in the first guide groove g4, the first ballmember B4 is limited in movement in the optical axis (Z-axis) and thesecond axis (Y-axis) direction, and may only be moved in the first axis(X-axis) direction. As an example, the first ball member B4 is capableof rolling motion only in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

To this end, the first guide groove g4 may have a shape having a lengthin the first axis (X-axis) direction.

Referring to FIG. 19 , at least one of the surfaces of the base 3000 andthe guide member 4000, facing each other in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction, has a second guide groove g5 in which the second ball memberB5 is disposed. The second guide groove g5 is provided as a plurality ofsecond guide grooves to correspond to the plurality of balls of thesecond ball member B5.

The second ball member B5 is accommodated in the second guide groove g5and fitted between the base 3000 and the guide member 4000.

In the state accommodated in the second guide groove g5, the second ballmember B5 is limited in movement in the optical axis (Z-axis) and thefirst axis (X-axis) direction, and may only be moved in the second axis(Y-axis) direction. As an example, the second ball member B5 is capableof rolling motion only in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

To this end, the second guide groove g5 may have a shape having a lengthin the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 21 , when driving force is generated in the firstaxis (X-axis) direction, the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 aremoved together in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

At this time, the first ball member B4 disposed between the guide member4000 and the housing 5000 rolls along the first axis (X-axis).

The second ball member B5 is disposed between the guide member 4000 andthe base 3000, and the second ball member B5 is limited in movement inthe first axis (X-axis) direction, and as a result, as the guide member4000 is moved in the first axis (X-axis) direction, the base 3000 isalso moved in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 22 , when driving force is generated in thesecond axis (Y-axis) direction, the base 3000 is moved in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction.

At this time, the second ball member B5 disposed between the base 3000and the guide member 4000 rolls along the second axis (Y-axis).

The guide member 4000 may move in the first axis (X-axis) direction, andthe base 3000 may move in both the first axis (X-axis) direction and thesecond axis (Y-axis) direction.

Since the carrier 2000 is disposed on the base 3000 and the image sensorS is disposed on the carrier 2000, as a result, as the base 3000 moves,the carrier 2000 and the image sensor S also move in the first axis(X-axis) direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

On the other hand, a first cushioning member d1 having elasticity may bedisposed on at least one of the surfaces of the base 3000 and thehousing 5000, facing each other in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis). For example, referring to FIGS. 21 and 22 , thefirst cushioning member d1 may be disposed on a side surface of the base3000. The base 3000 has four side surfaces, and on each side surface ofthe base 3000, the first cushioning members d1 may be disposed to bespaced apart from each other on at least two positions per side surface.The first cushioning member d1 may be formed of a material havingelastic properties. For example, the first cushioning member d1 may beformed of a rubber material.

Therefore, when the base 3000 moving in both the first axis (X-axis)direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction collides with thehousing 5000, shock and noise are reduced by the first cushioning memberd1.

The actuator 2 according to this example may detect a position of thebase 3000 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis).

To this end, a first position sensing unit 6500 is provided (see FIG. 17). The first position sensing unit 6500 includes a first position sensor6510 and a second position sensor 6530. The first position sensor 6510is disposed on the first substrate 8100 to face the first magnet 6110,and the second position sensor 6530 is disposed on the first substrate8100 to face the second magnet 6310. The first position sensor 6510 andthe second position sensor 6530 may be Hall sensors.

On the other hand, in another example, a separate position sensor maynot be provided. In this case, the first coil 6130 and the second coil6330 may function as the first position sensing unit 6500.

For example, the position of the base 3000 may be sensed through changesin inductance of the first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330.

For example, as the base 3000 moves, the first magnet 6110 and thesecond magnet 6310 also move, and accordingly, the inductance of thefirst coil 6130 and the second coil 6330 changes. Accordingly, theposition of the base 3000 may be sensed through changes in inductance ofthe first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330.

On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 17 and 18 , the actuator 2according to this example includes a yoke portion 9000. The yoke portion9000 provides pressing force such that a contact state of the base 3000,the guide member 4000, and the housing 5000 with the first ball memberB4 and the second ball member B5 may be maintained.

The yoke portion 9000 includes a first yoke 9100 and a second yoke 9300,and the first yoke 9100 and the second yoke 9300 are fixed to thehousing 5000. For example, the first yoke 9100 and the second yoke 9300may be disposed on the first substrate 8100, and the first substrate8100 may be fixed to the housing 5000.

The first coil 6130 and the second coil 6330 are disposed on one surfaceof the first substrate 8100, and the first yoke 9100 and the second yoke9300 are disposed on the other surface of the first substrate 8100.

The first yoke 9100 is disposed to face the first magnet 6110 in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the second yoke 9300 is disposed toface the second magnet 6310 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Accordingly, attractive force acts in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction, between the first yoke 9100 and the first magnet 6110 andbetween the second yoke 9300 and the second magnet 6310, respectively.

Therefore, since the base 3000 and the guide member 4000 are pressed inthe direction toward the yoke portion 9000, the contact state of thebase 3000, the guide member 4000 and the housing 5000 with the firstball member B4 and the second ball member B5 may be maintained.

The first yoke 9100 and the second yoke 9300 are materials capable ofgenerating attractive force between the first magnet 6110 and the secondmagnet 6310. For example, the first yoke 9100 and the second yoke 9300are provided as a magnetic body.

In this example, the first magnet 6110 is mounted on the guide member4000, and the second magnet 6310 is mounted on the base 3000.Accordingly, the guide member 4000 is pulled toward the first yoke 9100by the attractive force between the first yoke 9100 and the first magnet6110, and the base 3000 is pulled toward the second yoke 9300 by theattractive force between the second yoke 9300 and the second magnet6310.

In this case, referring to FIGS. 17 and 22 , a third yoke 9500 may beprovided on the base 3000 such that the guide member 4000 and the base3000 are pressed against each other. The third yoke 9500 may be providedon the base 3000 to be disposed in a position facing the first magnet6110 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Accordingly, attractive force also acts between the third yoke 9500 andthe first magnet 6110 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, andaccordingly, the guide member 4000 and the base 3000 may also be pressedagainst each other.

For example, when attractive force acts between the yoke portion 9000and the first magnet 6110 and the second magnet 6310, the state ofcontact between the respective components may be released due to anexternal impact or the like. Accordingly, in this example, the cover5300 is provided to improve resistance to external shocks and the like.

The cover 5300 may be hook-coupled to the housing 5000.

In the case of the actuator 2 according to this example, even when thecarrier 2000 is moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction duringfocus adjustment, since the relative positions of the first magnet 6110and the first coil 6130 and the relative positions of the second magnet6310 and the second coil 6330 do not change, the driving force foroptical image stabilization may be precisely controlled.

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the carrier and the base,FIGS. 24A and 24B are bottom perspective views of the base, FIG. 25 is across-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of FIG. 24B, and FIG. 26 is abottom perspective view of the carrier.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 23 ,FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII′ of FIG. 23 ,and FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII′ ofFIG. 23 .

FIG. 30 is a modified example of the position of the third magnet.

The movement of the carrier 2000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) directionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 30 .

The carrier 2000 includes a body portion 2100 and a guide portion 2300.The body portion 2100 may have a quadrangular frame shape. The guideportion 2300 is disposed on one side of the body portion 2100. Forexample, the guide portion 2300 extends in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction from one side of the body portion 2100.

The base 3000 includes a seating portion 3100 and a receiving portion3300. The seating portion 3100 may have a quadrangular frame shape. Thereceiving portion 3300 is disposed on one side of the seating portion3100. For example, the receiving portion 3300 extends in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction from one side of the seating portion 3100.

The body portion 2100 of the carrier 2000 is disposed on the seatingportion 3100 of the base 3000. For example, with reference to FIG. 23 ,the carrier 2000 is disposed such that the upper surface of the bodyportion 2100 faces the lower surface of the seating portion 3100 of thebase 3000.

The seating portion 3100 of the base 3000 may serve as a stopperlimiting the movement range of the carrier 2000 when the carrier 2000moves upwardly in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

A second cushioning member d2 having elasticity is disposed on at leastone of the surfaces of the body portion 2100 of the carrier 2000 and theseating portion 3100 of the base 3000, facing each other in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction. For example, referring to FIG. 23 , the secondcushioning member d2 may be disposed on the upper surface of the bodyportion 2100 of the carrier 2000. The second cushioning members d2 maybe disposed to be spaced apart from each other on at least threepositions of the upper surface of the body portion 2100 of the carrier2000. The second cushioning member d2 may be formed of a material havingelastic properties. For example, the second cushioning member d2 may beformed of a rubber material.

Accordingly, in the case in which the carrier 2000 and the base 3000collide, impact and noise may be reduced by the second cushioning memberd2.

At least a portion of the guide portion 2300 of the carrier 2000 isaccommodated in the receiving portion 3300 of the base 3000. To thisend, the receiving portion 3300 of the base 3000 is provided with anaccommodation space in which the guide portion 2300 of the carrier 2000is disposed.

A third guide groove g6 is respectively provided in the guide portion2300 of the carrier 2000 and the receiving portion 3300 of the base3000, and the third ball member B6 is disposed in the third guide grooveg6. The third guide groove g6 has a shape having a length in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction.

The third ball member B6 includes a plurality of balls disposed in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction. The plurality of balls may be rolled inthe optical axis (Z-axis) direction when the carrier 2000 is moved inthe optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The third guide groove g6 includes a first groove g61, a second grooveg62, a third groove g63, and a fourth groove g64. The guide portion 2300of the carrier 2000 is provided with a first groove g61 and a secondgroove g62, and the receiving portion 3300 of the base 3000 is providedwith a third groove g63 and a fourth groove g64. Each groove is formedto extend to have a length in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The first groove g61 and the third groove g63 are disposed to face eachother in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis)direction, and a portion (e.g., a first ball group BG1 to be describedlater) of a plurality of balls of the third ball member B6 is formed ina space between the first groove g61 and the third groove g63.

In addition, the second groove g62 and the fourth groove g64 aredisposed to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction, and the rest (e.g., a second ball group BG2 tobe described later) of the plurality of balls of the third ball memberB6 are disposed in a space between the second groove g62 and the fourthgroove g64.

The first groove g61, the third groove g63, and the fourth groove g64have an approximately ‘v’ shape in cross section cut in a planeperpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the secondgroove g62 has an approximately ‘

’ shape.

Accordingly, the first ball group BG1 of the third ball member B6 may bein two-point contact with the first groove g61 and may be in two-pointcontact with the third groove g63. Also, the second ball group BG2 ofthe third ball member B6 may contact the second groove g62 at one pointand contact the fourth groove g64 at two points.

For example, the first ball group BG1 of the third ball member B6 may bein four-point contact with the opposing first groove g61 and thirdgroove g63, and the second ball group BG2 of the third ball member B6may be in three-point contact with the opposing second groove g62 andfourth groove g64.

When the carrier 2000 moves in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, thefirst ball group BG1, the first groove g61, and the third groove g63 ofthe third ball member B6 may function as a main guide. In addition, thesecond ball group BG2, the second groove g62, and the fourth groove g64of the third ball member B6 may function as an auxiliary guide.

A first magnetic body 2500 is disposed on the guide portion 2300 of thecarrier 2000, and a second magnetic body 3500 is disposed on thereceiving portion 3300 of the base 3000. When the guide portion 2300 ofthe carrier 2000 is disposed in the receiving portion 3300 of the base3000, the first magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500face each other.

The first magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 maygenerate attractive force between each other. For example, attractiveforce acts between the first magnetic body 2500 and the second magneticbody 3500 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis).

One of the first magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500may be a magnet, and the other may be a yoke. In another example, boththe first magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 may beprovided as magnets.

Due to the attractive force of the first magnetic body 2500 and thesecond magnetic body 3500, the third ball member B6 may be in contactwith the carrier 2000 and the base 3000, respectively.

The third ball member B6 includes a first ball group BG1 and a secondball group BG2, and the first ball group BG1 and the second ball groupBG2 each include a plurality of balls disposed in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

The first ball group BG1 and the second ball group BG2 are spaced apartfrom each other in a direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) perpendicular tothe optical axis (Z-axis). The number of balls in the first ball groupBG1 and the number of balls in the second ball group BG2 may bedifferent from each other (refer to FIG. 23 ).

For example, the first ball group BG1 includes four or more ballsdisposed in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the second ballgroup BG2 includes three or fewer balls disposed in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

However, the examples described herein are not limited to the number ofballs belonging to each ball group, and under the premise that thenumber of balls belonging to the first ball group BG1 is different fromthe number of balls belonging to the second ball group BG2, the numberof balls belonging to each ball group may be changed. Hereinafter, forconvenience of description, an example in which the first ball group BG1includes four balls and the second ball group BG2 includes three ballswill be described.

Referring to FIG. 29 , in the first ball group BG1, two balls disposedat the outermost in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction have the samediameter, and a diameter of a ball disposed therebetween may be lessthan a diameter of the ball disposed at the outermost side. For example,in the first ball group BG1, two balls disposed at the outermost sidesin the optical axis (Z-axis) direction have a first diameter, and twoballs disposed therebetween have a second diameter, and the firstdiameter is greater than the second diameter.

In addition, two of the three balls of the second ball group BG2 have agreater diameter than that of the remaining one ball. For example, inthe second ball group BG2, two balls have a third diameter, one ball hasa fourth diameter, and the third diameter is greater than the fourthdiameter. Also, the first diameter and the third diameter may be thesame.

Referring to FIG. 29 , among the three balls of the second ball groupBG2, two balls disposed in the upper side in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction have a third diameter, and one ball disposed at the bottomside in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction has a fourth diameter. Asanother example, one ball disposed on the uppermost side in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction may have a fourth diameter, and the other twoballs may have a third diameter. In addition, among the three balls ofthe second ball group BG2, two balls disposed at the outermost in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction may have a third diameter, and one balldisposed therebetween may have a fourth diameter.

In this case, the same diameter may mean not only physically the same,but also including manufacturing errors.

Accordingly, the third ball member B6 may be in at least three-pointcontact with the carrier 2000 and the base 3000.

On the other hand, a distance between the centers of the two ballshaving the first diameter, among the plurality of balls of the firstball group BG1, and a distance between the centers of the two ballshaving the third diameter, among the plurality of balls of the secondball group BG2, is different. For example, a distance between thecenters of two balls having a first diameter is greater than a distancebetween the centers of two balls having a third diameter.

When the carrier 2000 is moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction,in order for the carrier 2000 to move parallel to the optical axis(Z-axis) direction, for example, to prevent a tilt from occurring, acenter point CP of the attractive force acting between the firstmagnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 should be locatedwithin a support area A connecting contact points of the carrier 2000(or the base 3000) and the third ball member B6.

When the center point CP of action of the attractive force deviates fromthe support area A, the position of the carrier 2000 is shifted in thecourse of the movement of the carrier 2000, and there is a fear that atilt may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to form the support area A aswide as possible.

In this example, intentionally, the size (e.g., a diameter) of a portionof the plurality of balls of the third ball member B6 is formed to belarger than the size (e.g., a diameter) of the remaining balls. In thiscase, balls having a relatively large size among the plurality of ballsmay be intentionally brought into contact with the carrier 2000 or thebase 3000.

Referring to FIG. 29 , among the plurality of balls of the first ballgroup BG1, the diameters of the two balls disposed at the outermost sidein the optical axis (Z-axis) direction are greater than the diameters ofthe remaining balls, and thus, the first ball group BG1 is in two-pointcontact with the carrier 2000, or the base 3000. In addition, since thediameters of two balls among the plurality of balls of the second ballgroup BG2 are greater than the diameters of the remaining balls, thesecond ball group BG2 is in two-point contact with the carrier 2000 orthe base 3000.

Accordingly, the third ball member B6 including the first ball group BG1and the second ball group BG2 is four-point contact with the carrier2000 or the base 3000. In addition, the support area A connecting thecontact points to each other may have a quadrangular shape (e.g., atrapezoidal shape).

Therefore, the support area A may be formed relatively wide, and thusthe center point CP of the attractive force acting between the firstmagnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 may be stablydisposed in the support area A. Therefore, driving stability at the timeof focus adjustment may be ensured.

On the other hand, even if some balls are manufactured to have the samediameter, actual sizes of the balls may be different due tomanufacturing errors. For example, one of the first ball group BG1 andthe second ball group BG2 is in two-point contact with the carrier 2000or the base 3000, and the other may be in one-point contact with thecarrier 2000 or the base 3000. In this case, the support area Aconnecting the contact points may have a triangular shape unlike in FIG.29 .

The first magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 may bedisposed closer to a main guide, for example, the first groove g61 andthe third groove g63 than an auxiliary guide, for example, the secondgroove g62 and the fourth groove g64, respectively. For example, whenviewed in the first axis (X-axis) direction, the center point CP ofaction of the attractive force generated between the first magnetic body2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 is disposed closer to the mainguide than the auxiliary guide.

Since the support area A has a longer length in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction as it is closer to the main guide, by disposing thefirst magnetic body 2500 and the second magnetic body 3500 closer to themain guide, the center point CP of action of the attractive force may belocated within the support area A.

On the other hand, during focus adjustment, the plurality of balls ofthe first ball group BG1 and the plurality of balls of the second ballgroup BG2 roll in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Accordingly, thesize of the support area A may be changed according to the movement ofthe balls belonging to each ball group. In this case, there is a fearthat the center point CP of the attractive force unexpectedly deviatesfrom the support area A during driving.

In this example, a first protrusion 3310 and a second protrusion 3330protruding toward the third ball member B6 may be disposed in thereceiving portion 3300 of the base 3000. For example, the firstprotrusion 3310 is disposed in the third groove g63 as the main guide,and the second protrusion 3330 is disposed in the fourth groove g64 asthe auxiliary guide.

In this case, the first protrusion 3310 and the second protrusion 3330have different lengths in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Forexample, the length of the second protrusion 3330 in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction is longer than the length of the first protrusion3310 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

In addition, the length of the third groove g63 serving as the mainguide in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction is different from thelength of the fourth groove g64 serving as the auxiliary guide in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction. For example, the length of the thirdgroove g63 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction is greater than thelength of the fourth groove g64 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

Accordingly, in this example, the number of the plurality of ballsbelonging to the first ball group BG1 and the number of the plurality ofballs belonging to the second ball group BG2 are configured differently,while the lengths of the spaces in which respective ball groups areaccommodated in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction are formeddifferently. Therefore, the size of the support area A is prevented frombeing changed, or even in a case in which the size of the support area Ais changed, the center point CP of action of the attractive force may beprevented from deviating from the support area A.

Referring to FIG. 23 , the actuator 2 according to this example includesa second driving unit 7000. The second driving unit 7000 may generatedriving force in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction to move the carrier2000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The second driving unit 7000 includes a third magnet 7100 and a thirdcoil 7300. The third magnet 7100 and the third coil 7300 may be disposedto face each other in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The third magnet 7100 is disposed on the carrier 2000. For example, thethird magnet 7100 may be disposed on at least one of an upper surfaceand a lower surface of the carrier 2000. The third magnet 7100 may bedisposed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of theguide portion 2300 of the carrier 2000. The upper surface of the carrier2000 may be a surface facing the upper surface of the housing 5000, andthe lower surface of the carrier 2000 may refer to a surface facing thecover 5300.

A third back yoke 7500 may be disposed between the carrier 2000 and thethird magnet 7100. The third back yoke 7500 may improve the drivingforce by preventing the magnetic flux of the third magnet 7100 fromleaking.

Referring to FIG. 23 , the third magnet 7100 includes two magnets, andone magnet may be respectively disposed on the upper surface and thelower surface of the carrier 2000. In addition, the third coil 7300includes two coils to face two magnets in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction.

Since the third magnet 7100 and the third coil 7300 face in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction, as the third magnet 7100 moves in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction, a separation distance between the third magnet7100 and the third coil 7300 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction maybe changed.

In this example, when a separation distance between the third magnet7100 and the third coil 7300 disposed on the upper surface side of thecarrier 2000 is reduced, a separation distance between the third magnet7100 and the third coil 7300 disposed on the lower surface side of thecarrier 2000 increases.

Therefore, since the separation distance between the third magnet 7100and the third coil 7300 may be compensated, the change in the magnitudeof the driving force of the third driving unit 7000 according to themovement of the carrier 2000 may be prevented.

However, the third magnet 7100 may also be disposed on one of the uppersurface and the lower surface of the carrier 2000 according to themoving distance of the carrier 2000 required for focus adjustment.

The third magnet 7100 may be a single-pole magnet magnetized such thatthe N pole and the S pole are disposed in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction. For example, a surface of the third magnet 7100, facing thethird coil 7300, may have an S pole, and an opposite surface thereto mayhave an N pole. In this case, the N pole and the S pole may bemagnetized opposite to each other. A neutral region is formed betweenthe N and S poles.

The third coil 7300 is disposed to face the third magnet 7100. Forexample, the third coil 7300 may be disposed to face the third magnet7100 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

When the third coil 7300 includes two coils, one coil is disposed on thefirst substrate 8100, and the other coil is disposed on a secondsubstrate 8300. The second substrate 8300 is mounted on the cover 5300such that the third magnet 7100 and the third coil 7300 face each otherin the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

The third magnet 7100 is a moving member that is mounted on the carrier2000 and moves in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction together with thecarrier 2000, and the third coil 7300 is a fixing member fixed to thefirst substrate 8100 and/or the second substrate 8300.

When power is applied to the third coil 7300, the carrier 2000 may bemoved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by the electromagneticforce between the third magnet 7100 and the third coil 7300.

Since the image sensor S is disposed on the carrier 2000, the imagesensor S is also moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by themovement of the carrier 2000.

FIG. 30 is a modified example of the position of the third magnet 7100.The example illustrated in FIG. 30 is different from the exampleillustrated in FIG. 23 in the positions of the third magnet 7100 and thethird coil 7300.

Referring to FIG. 30 , one of the two magnets included in the thirdmagnet 7100 may be disposed on a remaining portion of the lower surfaceof the carrier 2000, excluding a portion where the guide portion 2300 isdisposed.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 30 , the third magnet 7100 may be disposedanywhere on the lower surface of the carrier 2000.

Since the third magnet 7100 may be disposed anywhere on the lowersurface of the carrier 2000, at least a portion of the third magnet 7100may be disposed to overlap the first magnet 6110 or the second magnet6310 depending on the position of the third magnet 7100 in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 30 , the first magnet 6110 isdisposed on a position overlapping the third magnet 7100 in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction.

In this case, since the magnetic field of the first magnet 6110 mayaffect the third coil 7300 or the magnetic field of the third magnet7100 may affect the first coil 6130, a yoke may be disposed between thefirst magnet 6110 and the third magnet 7100. The yoke may be disposed onat least one of an upper surface of the carrier 2000, a lower surface ofthe carrier 2000, and a lower surface of the base 3000. The yoke may beformed of a magnetic metal material.

The actuator 2 according to this example may sense the position of thecarrier 2000 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction.

To this end, a second position sensing unit 7700 is provided (see FIGS.23 and 28 ). The second position sensing unit 7700 includes a sensingmagnet 7710 and a third position sensor 7730. The sensing magnet 7710 isdisposed on the lower surface of the carrier 2000, and the thirdposition sensor 7730 is disposed on the second substrate 8300 to facethe sensing magnet 7710. The third position sensor 7730 may be a Hallsensor.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 23 , the second position sensing unit7700 includes the sensing magnet 7710 and the third position sensor7730, but without disposing a separate sensing magnet 7710, the thirdposition sensor 7730 may also be disposed to face the third magnet 7100.

Alternatively, the second position sensing unit 7700 may include thesensing magnet 7710 and a sensing coil. For example, the sensing coilmay be disposed on the second substrate 8300 to face the sensing magnet7710. The inductance of the sensing coil changes according to a changein the distance between the sensing magnet 7710 and the sensing coil inthe optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and thereby, the position of thecarrier 2000 may be detected.

Alternatively, instead of disposing a separate sensing magnet and asensing coil, the third coil 7300 may function as the second positionsensing unit 7700.

For example, the position of the carrier 2000 may be sensed through achange in inductance of the third coil 7300.

For example, as the carrier 2000 moves, the third magnet 7100 alsomoves, and accordingly, the inductance of the third coil 7300 changes.Accordingly, the position of the carrier 2000 may be sensed through thechange in inductance of the third coil 7300.

The cover 5300 is coupled to the housing 5000 to cover at least aportion of the lower surface of the carrier 2000.

Accordingly, the cover 5300 may serve as a stopper that prevents thecarrier 2000 from being separated to the outside thereof.

In addition, the cover 5300 may cover the lower surface of the guideportion 2300 of the carrier 2000 to prevent the third ball member B6from being separated.

A third cushioning member d3 having elasticity may be disposed on atleast one of surfaces of the body portion 2100 of the carrier 2000 andthe cover 5300 (or the second substrate 8300), facing each other in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction. For example, referring to FIG. 26 , thethird cushioning member d3 may be disposed on the lower surface of thebody portion 2100 of the carrier 2000. The third cushioning members d3may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in at least threeplaces among the lower surfaces of the body portion 2100 of the carrier2000. The third cushioning member d3 may be formed of a material havingelastic properties. For example, the third cushioning member d3 may beformed of a rubber material.

Accordingly, when the carrier 2000 and the cover 5300 (or the secondsubstrate 8300) collide, impact and noise may be reduced by the thirdcushioning member d3.

The carrier 2000 may be moved in the optical axis (Z-axis) directionrelative to the base 3000. Also, the carrier 2000 may be moved in adirection perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), together with thebase 3000.

The image sensor S is electrically connected to the first substrate 8100and/or the second substrate 8300. For example, the image sensor S may beelectrically connected to the first substrate 8100 and/or the secondsubstrate 8300 by a connection portion.

Since the image sensor S is movable in three axial directions, theconnection portion connecting the image sensor S and the first substrate8100 and/or the second substrate 8300 may be configured to be flexible.

For example, the connection portion may be in the form of a flexiblefilm in which a conductor is patterned or in the form of a plurality ofcables. Accordingly, when the image sensor S is moved, the connectionportion may be bent.

In another example, a third substrate connected to the image sensor Smay be provided. The third substrate has a flexible connection portion,through which the image sensor S and the third substrate may beconnected. The connection portion may be in the form of a flexible filmin which conductors are patterned or in the form of a plurality ofcables.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 30 , the camera module 30 may performautofocusing (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) by moving theimage sensor S instead of the lens module 1000. For example, the imagesensor S may be moved together with the carrier 2000 in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction to adjust the focus. In addition, the image sensor Smay be moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis)together with the carrier 2000 to correct camera shake duringphotographing.

As another example, referring to FIG. 31 , the lens barrel 1100 may becoupled to the carrier 2000. Accordingly, the lens barrel 1100 may bemoved in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction together with the carrier2000 to adjust the focus. In addition, the lens barrel 1100 may be movedin a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) together withthe carrier 2000 to correct camera shake during photography.

The image sensor S is disposed on the second substrate 8300, and thesecond substrate 8300 is mounted on the cover 5300. Then, the cover 5300is coupled to the housing 5000. In this case, the image sensor S is afixed member that does not move during autofocusing (AF) and opticalimage stabilization (OIS).

The cover 5300 is provided with a protrusion 5310 protruding in theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the protrusion 5310 may be disposedin a position facing the third ball member B3 in the optical axis(Z-axis) direction. Accordingly, the third ball member B6 may beprevented from being separated, by the protrusion 5310. For reference, ahole through which the protrusion 5310 passes may be disposed in thesecond substrate 8300.

FIG. 32 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to another example, and FIG. 33 is an exploded perspectiveview of a housing and a base of the camera module according to anotherexample.

An actuator 3 and a camera module 40 illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 havea difference in configuration for guiding the movement of the base 3000,compared to the example illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 30 .

Referring to FIGS. 32 and 33 , the base 3000 is disposed in the housing5000. Unlike the example illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 30 , the guidemember 4000 is not provided between the housing 5000 and the base 3000.In addition, as the guide member 4000 is not provided, the ball member(the first ball member in the example illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 30 )disposed between the guide member 4000 and the housing 5000 is also notprovided.

The base 3000 may be configured to be movable in the first axis (X-axis)direction and the second axis (Y-axis) direction within the housing5000.

The first ball member B4 is disposed between the housing 5000 and thebase 3000. The first ball member B4 is disposed to contact the housing5000 and the base 3000, respectively.

The first ball member B4 serves to guide the base 3000 to move in twoaxial directions during the camera shake compensation process, and inaddition, also functions to maintain a gap between the housing 5000 andthe base 3000.

The first ball member B4 may guide both the movement of the base 3000 inthe first axis (X-axis) direction and the movement of the base 3000 inthe second axis (Y-axis) direction.

For example, when the driving force in the first axis (X-axis) directionis generated, the first ball member B4 rolls in the first axis (X-axis)direction. Accordingly, the first ball member B4 guides the movement ofthe base 3000 in the first axis (X-axis) direction.

In addition, when the driving force in the second axis (Y-axis)direction is generated, the first ball member B4 rolls in the secondaxis (Y-axis) direction. Accordingly, the first ball member B4 guidesthe movement of the base 3000 in the second axis (Y-axis) direction.

The first ball member B4 includes a plurality of balls disposed betweenthe housing 5000 and the base 3000.

A first guide groove g4′ in which the first ball member B4 is disposedis provided in at least one of surfaces of the housing 5000 and the base3000, facing each other, in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thefirst guide groove g4′ is provided as a plurality of first guide groovesg4′ to correspond to the plurality of balls of the first ball member B4.

The first ball member B4 is disposed in the first guide groove g4′ andfitted between the housing 5000 and the base 3000. In the stateaccommodated in the first guide groove g4′, the first ball member B4 maybe limited in the movement in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, andmay move in the first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis(Y-axis) direction. For example, the first ball member B1 is capable ofrolling motion in the first axis (X-axis) direction and the second axis(Y-axis) direction.

The first guide groove g4′ may be configured to have a circularcross-sectional shape cut in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis(Z-axis) direction.

The first magnet 6110 and the second magnet 6310 of the first drivingunit 6000 are mounted on the base 3000.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 , unlike the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 17 to 30 , the guide member 4000 is not disposedbetween the housing 5000 and the base 3000, and thus, the height of theactuator 3 and the camera module 40 may be further reduced.

FIG. 34 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a camera moduleaccording to another example, FIG. 35 is a plan view of a first drivingunit of the camera module according to another example, and FIGS. 36 and37 illustrate modified examples of FIG. 35 .

An actuator 4 and a camera module 50 illustrated in FIGS. 34 to 36 aredifferent from the example illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 in aconfiguration of a first driving unit 6000′.

Referring first to the example illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 , thefirst driving unit 6000 includes a first sub-driving unit 6100 and asecond sub-driving unit 6300. The first sub-driving unit 6100 includes afirst magnet 6110 and a first coil 6130, and the second sub-driving unit6300 includes a second magnet 6310 and a second coil 6330.

In addition, the first guide groove g4′ in which the first ball memberB4 is disposed is configured to have a circular cross-sectional shapecut in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thefirst ball member B4 may roll in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis (Z-axis) direction within the first guide groove g4′.

Therefore, in the case of occurrence of an unintentional deviation inthe driving force in the process of generating the driving force in thefirst axis (X-axis) direction or the second axis (Y-axis) direction,there is a possibility that rotational force having the optical axis(Z-axis) as the rotation axis acts on the base 3000.

In the case of the example illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 , it may bedifficult to prevent generation of such a rotational force or togenerate driving force capable of offsetting the rotational force.

However, in the case of the example illustrated in FIGS. 34 to 36 , thefirst driving unit 6000′ is configured to additionally generate drivingforce that offsets the rotational force.

Referring to FIGS. 34 to 36 , the first driving unit 6000′ includes afirst sub-driving unit 6100′ and a second sub-driving unit 6300′. Thefirst sub-driving unit 6100′ may include a first magnet 6110 and a firstcoil unit 6130′, and the second sub-driving unit 6300′ may include asecond magnet 6310 and a second coil unit 6330′.

At least one of the first coil unit 6130′ and the second coil unit 6330′may include two coils.

For example, the first coil unit 6130′ may include a first sub-coil 6131and a second sub-coil 6133, and the second coil unit 6330′ may include athird sub-coil 6331 and a fourth sub-coil 4.

The first sub-coil 6131 and the second sub-coil 6133 are disposed toface the first magnet 6110 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction,respectively. In addition, the first sub-coil 6131 and the secondsub-coil 6133 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinaldirection of the first magnet 6110.

The third sub-coil 6331 and the fourth sub-coil 6333 are disposed toface the second magnet 6310 in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction,respectively. In addition, the third sub-coil 6331 and the fourthsub-coil 6333 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinaldirection of the second magnet 6310.

FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate an example in which the first coil unit 6130′and the second coil unit 6330′ each include two coils, but asillustrated in FIG. 36 , one of the first coil unit 6130′ and the secondcoil unit 6330′ may include two coils and the other may include onecoil.

The first position sensing unit 6500′ includes at least three positionsensors. When three position sensors are provided, one position sensoris disposed to face one of the first magnet 6110 and the second magnet6310, and the other two position sensors are disposed to face the otherof the first magnet 6110 and the second magnet 6310.

For example, referring to FIG. 35 , the first position sensing unit6500′ includes a first position sensor 6510, a second position sensor6530, and a third position sensor 6550.

The first position sensor 6510 is disposed to face the first magnet 6110in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the second position sensor6530 and the third position sensor 6550 are disposed to face the secondmagnet 6310, respectively, in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. Thesecond position sensor 6530 and the third position sensor 6550 may bespaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the secondmagnet 6310.

When the base 3000 is rotated by a rotational force having the opticalaxis (Z-axis) as the rotation axis, the second magnet 6310 disposed onthe base 3000 is also rotated together with the base 3000. Since thesecond magnet 6310 faces the second position sensor 6530 and the thirdposition sensor 6550 that are spaced apart from each other, whether thebase 3000 is rotated or not is determined through the second positionsensor 6530 and the third position sensor 6550. In addition, theposition of the rotated base 3000 may be detected.

Referring to FIG. 35 , the first sub-driving unit 6100′ includes twocoils, and the second sub-driving unit 6300′ includes two coils.Accordingly, the two coils and the first magnet 6110 of the firstsub-driving unit 6100′, and the two coils and the second magnet 6310 ofthe second sub-driving unit 6300′ interact to generate driving forcecancelling the rotational force.

Referring to FIG. 37 , the first sub-driving unit 6100′ may include twocoils, the second sub-driving unit 6300′ may include two coils, and thefirst position sensing unit 6500′ may include four position sensors.

For example, the first position sensing unit 6500′ includes a firstposition sensor 6510, a second position sensor 6530, a third positionsensor 6550, and a fourth position sensor 6570.

The first position sensor 6510 and the second position sensor 6530 aredisposed to face the first magnet 6110 in the optical axis (Z-axis)direction, and the third position sensor 6550 and the fourth positionsensor 6570 are disposed to face the second magnet 6310 in the opticalaxis (Z-axis) direction, respectively. The first position sensor 6510and the second position sensor 6530 may be spaced apart in thelongitudinal direction of the first magnet 6110, and the third positionsensor 6550 and the fourth position sensor 6570 may be spaced apart fromeach other in the longitudinal direction of the second magnet 6310.

Whether the base 3000 is rotated may be detected and the position of therotated base 3000 may be sensed, through four position sensors, and therotational force acting on the base 3000 may be offset through the firstsub-driving unit 6100′ and the second sub-driving unit 6300′.

As set forth above, an actuator for a camera and a camera moduleincluding the same according to one or more examples may improve opticalimage stabilization.

While specific examples have been shown and described above, it will beapparent after an understanding of this disclosure that various changesin form and details may be made in these examples without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examplesdescribed herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, andnot for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects ineach example are to be considered as being applicable to similarfeatures or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achievedif the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/orif components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuitare combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented byother components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of thedisclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claimsand their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claimsand their equivalents are to be construed as being included in thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An actuator for a camera comprising: a housing comprising an interior space; a guide member, a base, and a carrier stacked in the housing in an optical axis direction; a first driving unit configured to generate driving force in a first axial direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and in a second axial direction, perpendicular to both the optical axis direction and the first axial direction, the first driving unit comprising a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils; and a second driving unit configured to generate driving force in the optical axis direction and comprising a magnet and a coil, wherein the carrier, the base, and the guide member are configured to be movable together in the first axial direction, wherein the carrier and the base are configured to be movable together in the second axial direction, wherein the carrier is configured to be movable relative to the base in the optical axis direction, wherein the plurality of magnets and the plurality of coils of the first driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction, and wherein the magnet and the coil of the second driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.
 2. The actuator for a camera of claim 1, wherein the first driving unit comprises: a first sub-driving unit comprising a first magnet and a first coil facing the first magnet in the optical axis direction; and a second sub-driving unit comprising a second magnet and a second coil facing the second magnet in the optical axis direction, wherein the first magnet is mounted on the guide member, and the second magnet is mounted on the base.
 3. The actuator for a camera of claim 2, wherein the guide member comprises a mounting groove in which the first magnet is disposed, and an escape hole accommodating the second magnet.
 4. The actuator for a camera of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a first substrate mounted thereon, wherein the first coil and the second coil are disposed on one surface of the first substrate, and wherein on an other surface of the first substrate, a first yoke is disposed in a position facing the first magnet, and a second yoke is disposed in a position facing the second magnet.
 5. The actuator for a camera of claim 1, wherein a first ball member capable of rolling motion in the first axial direction is disposed between the guide member and the housing, and a second ball member capable of rolling motion in the second axial direction is disposed between the guide member and the base.
 6. The actuator for a camera of claim 5, wherein at least one of surfaces of the guide member and the housing, facing each other in the optical axis direction, comprises a first guide groove in which the first ball member is disposed, and wherein at least one of surfaces of the guide member and the base, facing each other in the optical axis direction, comprises a second guide groove in which the second ball member is disposed.
 7. The actuator for a camera of claim 1, wherein the magnet of the second driving unit is mounted on the carrier.
 8. The actuator for a camera of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a first substrate mounted thereon, wherein the magnet of the second driving unit comprises at least two magnets, and the coil of the second driving unit comprises at least two coils, wherein the at least two magnets are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the carrier, respectively, and wherein one coil of the at least two coils is disposed on the first substrate, and the other coil is disposed on a second substrate disposed in a position spaced apart from the first substrate in the optical axis direction.
 9. The actuator for a camera of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a body portion and a guide portion extending from one side of the body portion in the optical axis direction, wherein the base comprises a seating portion facing the body portion in the optical axis direction, and a receiving portion extending from one side of the seating portion in the optical axis direction, and wherein at least a portion of the guide portion is accommodated in an accommodation space in the receiving portion.
 10. The actuator for a camera of claim 9, wherein a third ball member is disposed between the guide portion and the receiving portion, and wherein a third guide groove in which the third ball member is disposed is respectively disposed in surfaces of the guide portion and the receiving portion facing each other in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
 11. The actuator for a camera of claim 10, wherein the third ball member comprises a first ball group in contact with the third guide groove at four points, and a second ball group in contact with the third guide groove at three points.
 12. The actuator for a camera of claim 11, wherein the number of a plurality of balls belonging to the first ball group is greater than the number of a plurality of balls belonging to the second ball group.
 13. The actuator for a camera of claim 11, wherein a first magnetic body is disposed in the guide portion, a second magnetic body is disposed in the receiving portion, and attractive force is generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction, wherein the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body are disposed closer to the first ball group than the second ball group.
 14. The actuator for a camera of claim 1, further comprising an image sensor disposed on the carrier.
 15. A camera module comprising: a housing having an internal space; a lens module fixedly disposed in the internal space; a base and a carrier stacked in an optical axis direction within the housing; a first driving unit configured to generate driving force in a first axial direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and in a second axial direction, perpendicular to both the optical axis direction and the first axial direction, the first driving unit comprising a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils; and a second driving unit configured to generate driving force in the optical axis direction and comprising a magnet and a coil, wherein an image sensor is disposed on the carrier, wherein the carrier and the base are configured to be movable together in the first axial direction and the second axial direction, wherein the carrier is configured to be movable relative to the base in the optical axis direction, wherein the plurality of magnets and the plurality of coils of the first driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction, and wherein the magnet and the coil of the second driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.
 16. The camera module of claim 15, wherein the first driving unit comprises: a first sub-driving unit comprising a first magnet and a first coil facing the first magnet in the optical axis direction; a second sub-driving unit comprising a second magnet and a second coil facing the second magnet in the optical axis direction; and a first position sensing unit facing the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are mounted on the base, wherein at least one of the first coil and the second coil comprises two coils, and wherein the first position sensing unit comprises at least three position sensors.
 17. An actuator for a camera comprising: a carrier and a base stacked in a housing in an optical axis direction; a first driving unit configured to drive the base and the carrier in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the optical axis direction; and a second driving unit configured to drive the carrier relative to the base in the optical axis direction, wherein the first driving unit and the second driving unit each comprises a magnet facing a coil in the optical axis direction.
 18. The actuator for a camera of claim 17, further comprising a guide member, wherein the guide member is restricted from movement in the second direction, wherein the base is stacked on the guide member, and wherein the first driving unit is configured to drive the guide member, the base, and the carrier in the first direction to drive the base and the carrier in the first direction.
 19. The actuator for a camera of claim 17, wherein the first driving unit comprises: a first sub-driving unit comprising a first magnet and a first coil facing the first magnet in the optical axis direction; a second sub-driving unit comprising a second magnet and a second coil facing the second magnet in the optical axis direction; and a first position sensing unit facing the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are mounted on the base, wherein at least one of the first coil and the second coil comprises two coils, and wherein the first position sensing unit comprises at least three position sensors.
 20. A camera module comprising: the actuator for a camera of claim 17; one of an image sensor and a lens barrel disposed on the carrier; and an other of the image sensor and the lens barrel fixedly disposed on the housing, wherein the lens barrel comprises one or more lenses disposed on the optical axis, and wherein the image sensor is configured to receive light emitted from the lens barrel. 